gopperton



Jan. 21, 1964 A. A; GOPPERTON 3,113,371

CHECK WRITER WITH ZERO PRINTING ADJUSTMENT Filed April 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

\ ara az az G v veribm MW: W WM ClYg.

Jan. 21, 1964 A. A. GOPPERTON 3,113,371

CHECK WRITER WITH ZERO PRINTING ADJUSTMENT Filed April 3, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ardaflz/ @Ggp verlzw Jan. 21, 1964 GOPPERTON 3,118,371

CHECK WRITER WITH ZERO PRINTING ADJUSTMENT Filed April 3, 1963 6 SheetsSheet 3 o I I 2 2 INVENTOR.

LK; ardaf/v/Czz a v erfam WWVM.

J 1964 A. A. GOPPERTON' CHECK WRITER wrm ZERO PRINTING ADJUSTMENT Filed April 3, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 21, 1964 A. GOPPERTON CHECK WRITER wx'ru ZERO PRINTING ADJUSTMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 3, 1963 INVENTOR CZrcZai/v Q figv eriom 1IllIII!Ii;I!Illfill!!!lllllI/IIIIIIIII'II? 15;: ll iilllIl/IIIIII/If!1I'll/ll:l/IllllilflllrlilfillfllI/ldlll'lllfllllllllll I Jan. 21, 1964 A. A. GOPPERTON CHECK WRITER WITH ZERO PRINTING ADJUSTMENT Filed April 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,113,371 CHECK WRITER WllTH ZERO PRINTING ADJUSTMENT Ardath A. Gcpperton, Niles, lll., assigns: to Theodore l5. Hirsclaberg, In, Chicago, llll. Filed Apr. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 27d,327 l (Zlairns. (till. 161-97) This invention relates to machines for printing checks and similar instruments, commonly referred to as check writers, and has to do with such a machine having means whereby it may be adjusted, with expedition and facility, to print checks in round numbers, i.e., in amounts of multiples of tens of dollars.

In many of the known check writers it is necessary to adjust the printing members individually in order to print a check in the amount of ten dollars or multiples thereof. That could be time consuming when it is necessary to print successively a substantial number of such checks. it is an object of my invention to avoid that difficulty by providing means whereby the adjustment of but one printing member assures adjustment of all of the dollar printing members to be used in the printing in round numbers of the desired amount upon the check blank. To that end i provide a plurality of dollar printing members movable to a blank or non-printing position and means elfective, upon adjustment of one of such members to a selected printing position, for assuring adjustment to Zero printing position of the other of such members as are to be used in the printing of a check while also guarding against blank spaces in the printed check. A further object is to provide means of the character stated which in no way interferes with adjustment of the printing members individually for the'printing of checks for various desired amounts. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings;

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a check writer embodying my invention, with the door and the right hand side plate of the enclosing casing removed;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the check writer of FIG- URE 1, with the side plate of the enclosing casing omitted but including the door and the inking means;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the check writer of FTGURE 2, with the index bar broken away to show underlying parts, the door and the inking means being omitted, with the cents printing segments and the last dollar printing segment in zero printing position and the other dollar printing segments in non-printing position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of IGURE 3, but including the casing;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but with the first dollar printing segment moved to a selected printing position causing movement of the dollar segments, except the last thereof, to the right of such first segment to zero printing position, the second segment only being shown in such position; and

FEGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of FEGURE 3, but including the casing.

l have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as embodied in a check writer similar to that disclosed in the patent of A. G. Rindileisch, No. 2,697,931, except as to the clearing yoke operating means, the latter being similar to that disclosed in my copending application for Signature 'Printing Check Writer, Serial No. 250,424, filed Jan. 9, 196-3. As will be understood, in its broader aspects my invention may be applied to any suitable check writer or analogous machine.

The check writer shown is provided with a casing or housing "all enclosing a main frame comprising side plates 11 and 12 secured together in spaced relation by spacing dldfii'll Patented Jan. 21, lhfi ice cross rods 13. Each of the plates 11 and 12 is provided with a forwardly extending base element defining with the upper portion of the plate a rearwardly extending opening or slot 14. for insertion of a check blank or analogous paper to be printed upon, as is known. A shaft 15 is mounted in plates lit and 12 by means of reduced studs (not shown) at its ends providing shoulders abutting the inner faces of plates 11 and 12 and restraining shaft 15 against endwise movement. A sum bar 16, a dollars bar 17 and a cents bar 18 are mounted at their upper ends upon shaft 15, each being provided with a sleeve fitting snugly about the shaft. 1e bars 16, 17 and 18 are secured at their lower ends to a guide bar 19 extending transversely of the main frame suitably secured at its ends in the plates ll and 12. A perforator plate 2% is suitably secured upon the under face of bar lit, for a purpose to be explained later. The printing line of the machine is the line defined by the bars 16, 17 and 18, and the type segments, to be referred to later, which carry the amount printing characters, are individually adjustable to align such characters on the printing line. The bar 1'7 bears upon its lower or printing face the abbreviation Dols for dollars and the bar 18 bears upon its printing face the abbreviation Cts for cents. A prefix plate 21 is slidably mounted on the lower end of the sum bar 16 and bears on its lower or printing face a suitable legend, such as The Sum. During the printing operation plate 21 is moved inwardly to position abutting the first or nearer one of the dollar printing or type segments then in printing position. The means for operating the plate 21 is the same as in the above identified Rindfleisch patent. Such means is not essential to my present invention and need not be described here, it being understood that any suitable means may be provided for operating the prefix plate.

A plurality of printing or type segments 23, with intervening spacing collars 24, are mounted for independent turning movement upon shaft 15- and me restrained against endwise movement thereon by the spacing collars 24 and the sleeves at the upper ends of the bars l6, l7 and 18. I have shown, by way of example, six dollar segments 23 between the sum bar 16 and the dollars bar 17, and two cent segments 23 between the dollars bar 17 and the cents bar 18. Any suitable number of dollar segments may be provided, as will be understood. An arcuate type bar 25 is suitable secured to the edge portion of each segment 23 for movement therewith. The type bar Z'e' is provided, upon its printing face with a series of printing characters ranging from zero to nine and arranged in seriatim order from the leading end of the bar. Each of the type bars 25 is of reduced thickness or radial extent at each end providing a rearwardly extending element 26 and a forwardly extending element 2.7 and a cut out or notch contiguous to each of such elements. The guide bar it? is provided with transverse slots which re ceive the type bars 25 of segments 23 and restrain them against transverse movement, as in the above identified patent.

Each of the segments 23 is provided with a forwardly projecting finger 29w which is suitably secured a grip member 34} provided at its outer end'with a finger grip or cap 31 having a friction fit tnereon. A number or index strip 32 is secured to each member B il. The strip 32 is concentric with shaft 15' and underlies a top plate 33 of casing in. Each of the strips 32 has thereon a series of characters corresponding to the printing characters of the respective type segments. The plate 33 is provided with a first series of lengthwise slots 34 and a second series of lengthwise slots 35. Plate 33 is further provided with a series of openings as respectively overlying the index strips 32. The members Ell pass through the slotsfid and 35 for effecting individual adjustment of the type segments 23. The index strips 32 and the openings 36 are so disposed that the number or character visible through any one of the openings 36 indicates the character of the corresponding type segment 23 which is then disposed at the printing line of the machine, as will be understood. The first five slots 34, corresponding to the first five dollar type segments 23, extend downward to such extent that any selected one of those segments may be turned to position with the zero character thereof overlying the guide bar 19, with the notch of such segment contiguous to finger 27 thereof overlying the printing line of the machine. Such segment is then in a non-printing or blank position, indicated by the blank upper portion of tie index strip then visible through the corresponding opening 36. The lower ends of slots 35, corresponding to the sixth dollar segment and the two cent segments, are spaced above the lower ends of slots 34 a distance such that when the member 30 of any one of the last three segments 23 is at the lower end of the corresponding slot 34 the zero printing character of that segment is disposed on the printing line of the machine. Briefly, the first five segments can be turned beyond zero printing position to a blank or non-printing position, and the last three segments can be turned to zero printing position only, by movement of the corresponding member 30 downward to maximum extent. The upper ends of the siots 34 and 35 preferably are disposed in a common plane, such that maximum upward movement of any one of the members 30 disposes the printing character 9 of the corresponding segment 23 on the printing line. Each of the segments 23 is also provided with a two-way rack 37 formed by cutting teeth in the hub portion thereof. The racks 37 cooperate with spring pressed ball detents, mounted in an index bar 38 extending between and secured in the side plates 11 and 12 in overlying relation to the rearward portions of segments 23. That provides means for holding segments 23 in their adjusted positions, as will be understood, such means being the same as that disclosed in the above identified Rindfieisch patent. The racks 37 and the detents also provide supplemental means for preventing turning of the first five segments downward beyond nonprinting position. Within the broader aspects of my invention any suitable means may be provided for holding the segments 23 in adjustment and for preventing turning thereof beyond normal position, as will be understood.

The type segments 23 and the perforator plate cooperate with platens 40 and 41, respectively, for printing the desired amount of the check and perforating the payee and the amount areas thereof, as in the above patent. The platen 40 is mounted on the forward end of two outer platen arms 42 and the platen 41 is mounted on the forward ends of two inner platen arms 43, which arms 42 and 43 are rockably mounted on a cross shaft 44 extending between and mounted at its ends in the base portions of the frame side plates 11 and 12. Operating means, including an operating lever 45, is provided for rocking the platen arms 42 and 43 about the axis of shaft 45, for effecting the printing operation and returning the platens 40 and 41 to their normal lowered position. Inking means 46 is provided for applying ink to the characters on the printing line preparatory to a printing operation, such inking means being actuated incident to movement of the operating lever 45. The operating means and the inking means may be similar to that disclosed in the patent above identified, it being understood that, within the broader aspects of my invention, any suitable operating and inking means may be provided. A clearing yoke 47 is rockably mounted on shaft 15 and suitable means is provided for swinging it forward and downward, incident to return of the operating lever to its normal rearward position after completion of a printing operation. Yoke 47 normally is yieldingly held in a rearward position. When it is swung forward and downward it returns to normal position all of the type segments which have been adj'tisted to other positions, the first five of such segments being then in blank or non-printing position and the last three segments being in zero printing position. The clearing yoke 47, when in its normal position, provides supplemental means for preventing turning of the segments 23 upward beyond the number nine printing position. Means is also provided for rendering the clearing yo incfrcciive, when it is desired to print a number of checks for the same amount. The clearing yoke operating means and the means for optionally rendering it effective or incf'lcctive may be similar to that disclosed in the above identified patent, or similar to that disclosed in my copending application for Signature Printing Check Writer, Serial No. 250,424, filed Jan. 9, 1963. The particular operating and inking means and the particular clearing yoke means are not essential to my present invention and need not be described in greater detail. Sufiice to state that suitable operating means is provided for performing the printing operation and inking the characters on the printing line, as well as actuating the clearing yoke, including means for optionally rendering the latter effective or ineffective as desired.

The check writer so far described is, in general similar to that of the above identified Rindfieisch patent. As above noted, in the normal positions of the type segments, the first five thereof are disposed in blank or non-printing position and the last three are disposed in zero printing position. Referring to FIGURES 3 to 6, inclusive, a cross shaft 50 extends between the side plates 11 and 12 below and rearward of the index bar 38. Shaft 50 is provided with end studs of reduced diameter extending into corresponding openings in plates 11 and 12, providing end shoulders on shaft 50 restraining it against endwise movement. Five zero setting levers 51 are rockably mounted on the midportion of shaft 50 and are spaced apart by spacing collars 52 also mounted on shaft 50, the group of levers 51 and collars 52 being confined between C snap rings 53 engaging in circumferential grooves in the shaft. Each of the levers 51 comprises a head 54, mounted on shaft 50, a substantially arcuate neck 55 extending forwardly from head 54, an arcuate lower arm 56 extending downwardly and forwardly from neck 55 and an upper arm 57 having an arcuate base portion attached to neck 55 and an upwardly and forwardly extending substantrally straight body portion, there being a forwardly opening arcuate recess 58 between the rearward ends of arms 56 and 57.

The neck 55 of each lever 51 is provided, at its upper edge, with an upwardly extending fiat land element 60 and a setting finger 61, spaced apart lengthwise of neck 55. The fingers 61 of levers 51 extend to the right thereof, as v ewed in FIGURE 3, with the finger 61 of each successive lever 51, except the fifth or last thereof, seating on the land 60 of the next adjacent lever. To that end, the lands 60 and fingers 61 of the lovers 51 are staggered, as shown. The last or sixth dollar type segment 23 normally is in zero printing position, as previously noted and, for that reason, is not provided with a zero setting lever. Each of the first five of the dollar type segments 23 has secured thereto, adjacent its rearward edge, a stud 6.2 extending from the right side thereof to Within a short distance of the next adjacent segment. The stud 62 of each of the first five segments 23 overlies the lower arm 56 of the corresponding zero setting lever 51. When any one of the first five segments 23 is in its normal blank or non-printing position, the stud 62 thereof is disposed in recess 58 of the corresponding lever 51, as shown in FIG- URE 4. Entry of stud 62 into recess 58, incident to counter-clockwise turning of segment 23 from a printing position to a non-printing position, turns the correspondmglever 51 slightly in clockwise direction effective for raising the upper arm 57 thereof a short distance above the corresponding spacing collar 24 on shaft 15. The lever 51 is then in its normal position shown.

Assuming all of the first five segments 23 to be in normal non-printing position, turning of any one thereof to a selected printing position will cause turning to Zero printing position of the segment, or segments, of the first five to the right of the adjusted segment. Assume for example, that the first five segments are in non-printing position, and the last three are in zero printing position. In order to print a check for $560,000.00 it is only necessary to turn the first dollar segment clockwise to position with the printing character 5 thereof on the printing line. That withdraws stud 62 from recess 58 of the corresponding lever 51, in the initial clockwise turning of the first segment. As stud 62 is withdrawn from recess 58 it turns lever 51 a short distance counter-clockwise and brings arm 57 thereof into close proximity to, or contact with, the corresponding spacing collar 24 on shaft 15. That limits the extent of counter-clockwise turning of lever 51 and disposes the lower arm 56 thereof in substantially concentric relation to shaft and a slight distance below stud as, as shown in FEGURE 5. The first segment is thereafter free for adjustment to any desired printing position. Turning of tl-e lever 53 corresponding to the first segment 23 in counterclockwise direction causes turning of the remaining levers 51 inthe same direction and to equal extent, by means of the fingers and lands s1 and 69. The arms 57 of the levers 51 are then in close proximity to, or contact with, the corresponding spacing collars 24 on shaft 15. In the turning of the other levers, the base portions of the upper arms 57 thereof force the studs 62 of the corresponding segments 23 out of the recesses 5% thereby turning the corresponding segments 23 from their normal non-printing position to Zero-printing position. Contact of the lever arms 57 with the spacing collars 24 guards against turning of the levers 5i beyond position with the lower arms 56 thereof substantially concentric with shaft 15. The adjustment of the first dollar segment, in the assumed example, does not the sixth or last dollar type segment nor the cent type segments, which remain in zero printing position. In order to print a check for $300.00, for example, assuming all of the type segments to be in normal position, the fourth segment from the left is turned to position with its type character 3 on the printing line. That turns the fifth segment to zero printing position and the sixth dollar segment and the cent segments remain in Zero printing position. The machine is then properly adjusted for printing the desired amount. The adjustment of any one of the first five segments has no effect on any segment to the left thereof because the fingers 61 of the zero setting levers 5i extend to the right only thereof, as viewed in FIGURE 3; as will be understood.

The zero setting lever means provides an interlock between the type first five segments whereby the machine may be set to print in round numbers, i.e., in multiples of ten, any desired amount within limits by merely adjusting one of the dollar printing or type segments. Such zero setting means accommodates individual adjustment of the type segments for printing checks in desired amounts, while facilitating printing of checks for amounts in round numbers.

Further, when a segment 23 to the right of the first dollar segment is turned to zero printing position by the corresponding lever 51. it can not be turned counter-clockwise to a non-printing position. Referring to FIGURE 5, the stud d2. of segment 23 is in a position lower than its position shown in FIGURE 4 and arm 57 of lever 61 also is in a lower position in FIGURE 5 than in FIG- URE When lever 53 is in its position shown in FIG- URE 5, arm 5'7 of lever 51 prevents turning of segment 23 counter-clockwise to non-printing position. That precludes printing of a check with one or more blank spaces which could be later filled into make the amount of the check greater than the desired amount in round numbers or multiples often.

As above stated, it will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the field and scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a check writer, means defining a transverse printing line extending from left to right of the check writer, a plurality of type segments bearing printing characters ranging from zero to nine and adjustable for positioning selected ones of said characters on the printing line, said type segments having a normal non-printing position and being adjustable about a common axis substantially paralel with said printing line, a plurality of zero setting levers rockably mounted on an axis parallel with said common axis and respectively havinga lower arm and an upper arm extending between said segments, the latter having studs extending to the right thereof overlying said lower arms and said levers having a normal non-printing position corresponding to said normal non-printing position of said segments and a Zero printing position corresponding to zero printing position of said segments, said levers further having between the arms thereof recesses receiving said studs in the non-printing position of said segments and elements contiguous to said recesses and cooperating with said studs for turning the respective segments to zero printing position responsive to turning to such position of the corresponding lever, said elements also cooperating with said studs for turning to zero printing position any one lever corresponding to any selected one of said segments turned to a printing position independently of said levers, and means providing an interlock between said levers effective for turning to zero printing position all of said levers to the right of said one lever and thereby turning to zero printing position all of the segments to the right of said one independently adjusted segment.

2. In a check writer, means defining a transverse printing line extending from left to right of the check writer, a plurality of type segments bearing printing characters anging from zero to nine and adjustable for positioning selected ones of said characters on the printing line, said type segments having a normal non-printing position and being adjustable about a common axis substantially parallel with said printing line and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof, a plurality of zero setting levers rockably mounted on a common axis parallel with and in rear of said axis of said segments, said levers respectively comprising a forwardly extending neck and a lower arm and an upper arm extending from said neck forwardly between adjacent segments, the latter having studs extending to the right thereof overlying said lower arms and said levers having a normal non-printing position and a zero printing position respectively corresponding to the non-printing and zero printing positions of said segments, said levers further having between the arms thereof forwardly opening recesses receiving said studs in the non printing position of said segments and elements contiguous to said recesses and cooperating with said studs for turning the respective segments to zero printing position responsive to turning to such position of the corresponding lever, said elements also cooperating with said studs for turning to zero printing position any one lever corresponding to any selected one of said segments turned to a printing position independently of said levers, and tongues and lands on the necks of said levers isposed with said tongues extending to the right and respectively seating on the land of the next adjacent lever, said tongues and lands providing an interlock between said levers effective for turning to zero printing position all of said levers to the right of said one lever and thereby turning to zero printing position all of the segments to the right of said one independently adjusted segment.

3. In a check writer, means defining a transverse printing line extending from left to right of the check writer,

a plurality of type segments bearing printing characters ranging from zero to nine and adjustable for positioning selected ones of said characters on the printing line, said type segments having a normal non-printing position and being adjustable about a common axis substantially parallel with said printing line, a plurality of zero setting levers rockably mounted on an axis parallel with said common axis and respectively having a lower arm and an upper arm extending between said segments, the latter having studs extending to the right thereof overlying said lower arms and said levers having a normal non-printing position corresponding to said normal non-printing position of said segments and a zero printing position corresponding to zero printing position of said segments, said levers further having between the arms thereof recesses receiving said studs in the non-printing position of said segments and elements contiguous to said recesses and cooperating with said studs for turning the respective segments to zero printing position responsive to turning to such position of the corresponding lever, said elements also cooperating with said studs for turning to zero printing position any one lever corresponding to any selected one of said segments turned to a printing position independently of said levers, means providing an interlock between said levers etfective for turning to zero printing position all of said levers to the right of said one lever and thereby turning to Zero printing position all of the segments to the right of said one independently adjusted segment, and means cooperating with said upper arms of said levers restraining the latter against turning thereof from their said normal non-printing position to a position beyond their said zero printing position.

4. In a check writer, means defining a transverse printing line extending from left to right of the check writer, a first shaft disposed above and substantially parallel with said line, a plurality of type segments mounted on said shaft projecting forwardly and rearwardly thereof and bearing printing characters ranging from zero to nine, said segments being turnable about said shaft for positioning on said printing line selected printing characters and being spaced by spacers on said shaft, 21 second shaft disposed in rear of and parallel with said first shaft, a pinrality of zero setting levers rockably mounted on said second shaft and respectively having upper and lower arms extending forwardly between said segments, the latter having studs extending to the right thereof overlying said lower arms and said levers having a normal nonprinting position and a zero printing position respectively corresponding to the nonprinting and zero printing positions of said segments, said levers further having between the arms thereof forwardly opening recesses receiving said studs in the non-printing position of said segments and elements contiguous to said recesses and cooperating with said studs for turning the respective segments to zero printing position responsive to turning to such position of the corresponding lever, said elements also cooperating with said studs for turning to zero printing position any one lever corresponding to any selected one of said segments turned to a printing position independently of said levers, said spacers cooperating with said upper arms of said levers for restraining the latter against turning thereof from their said normal non-printing position to a position beyond their said zero printing position, and tongues and lands on said levers rearward of said segments disposed with said tongues extending to the right and respectively seating on the land of the next adjacent lever, said tongues and lands providing an interlock between said levers etfective for turning to zero printing position all of said levers to the right of said one lever and thereby turning to zero printing position all of the segments to the right of said one independently adjusted segment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,715 Garbell Apr. 23, 1935 2,070,763 Ward Feb. 16, 1937 2,092,852 Payne Sept. 14, 1937 2,391,825 Fettig Dec. 25, 1945 

1. IN A CHECK WRITER, MEANS DEFINING A TRANSVERSE PRINTING LINE EXTENDING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT OF THE CHECK WRITER, A PLURALITY OF TYPE SEGMENTS BEARING PRINTING CHARACTERS RANGING FROM ZERO TO NINE AND ADJUSTABLE FOR POSITIONING SELECTED ONES OF SAID CHARACTERS ON THE PRINTING LINE, SAID TYPE SEGMENTS HAVING A NORMAL NON-PRINTING POSITION AND BEING ADJUSTABLE ABOUT A COMMON AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID PRINTING LINE, A PLURALITY OF ZERO SETTING LEVERS ROCKABLY MOUNTED ON AN AXIS PARALLEL WITH SAID COMMON AXIS AND RESPECTIVELY HAVING A LOWER ARM AND AN UPPER ARM EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SEGMENTS, THE LATTER HAVING STUDS EXTENDING TO THE RIGHT THEREOF OVERLYING SAID LOWER ARMS AND SAID LEVERS HAVING A NORMAL NON-PRINTING POSITION CORRESPONDING TO SAID NORMAL NON-PRINTING POSITION OF SAID SEGMENTS AND A ZERO PRINTING POSITION CORRESPONDING TO ZERO PRINTING POSITION OF SAID SEGMENTS, SAID LEVERS FURTHER HAVING BETWEEN THE ARMS THEREOF RECESSES RECEIVING SAID STUDS IN THE NON-PRINTING POSITION OF SAID SEGMENTS AND ELEMENTS CONTIGUOUS TO SAID RECESSES AND COOPERATING WITH SAID STUDS FOR TURNING THE RESPECTIVE SEGMENTS TO ZERO PRINTING POSITION RESPONSIVE TO TURNING TO SUCH POSI- 